Drama as kingmakers reject Owoade as new Alaafin of Oyo, give major reason

• Five Kingmakers have rejected Governor Seyi Makinde's choice of Prince Abimbola Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo
• The kingmakers insisted on Prince Lukman Gbadegesin as the Alaafin-elect, and declared Owoade's appointment null and void, noting that they did not recommend him to the government
• Makinde on Friday declared that Prince Owoade, after thorough consultations and divinations, was recommended by the Oyomesi and approved by the Oyo state government

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

Kingmakers in Oyo town, Oyo state, have protested the appointment of Prince Abimbola Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo by Governor Seyi Makinde.

Oyo kingmakers protest governor Makinde’s appointment of new Alaafin. Photo credit: Abimbola Owoade, Seyi Makinde
Source: Facebook

Legit.ng reported that Owoade was officially approved as the new Alaafin of Oyo by Governor Makinde.

The announcement was made on Friday, January 10, by Dotun Oyelade, the Oyo state commissioner for information and orientation.

Five kingmakers who rejected Owoade’s appointment

However, five prominent kingmakers in Oyo town have rejected Owoade’s appointment.

The protesting kingmakers include:

1. The Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuf Akinade;
2. The Lagunna of Oyo, High Chief Wakeel Akindele;
3. The Akinniku of Oyo, High Chief Hamzat Yusuf;
4. A warrant chief representing the Asipa of Oyo, Chief Wahab Oyetunji; and
5. A warrant chief representing the Alapinni of Oyo, Chief Gbadebo Mufutau.

As reported by The Punch, the kingmakers argued that Prince Lukman Gbadegesin was the rightful Alaafin-elect.

The cited ongoing legal proceedings concerning the selection process and made their grievances known through a letter signed by their legal counsel, Kunle Sobaloju, SAN.

The kingmakers described the governor’s actions as illegal and urged the suspension of the process until the matter was resolved in court.

The letter made available to The Punch on Saturday, January 11, outlined the kingmakers’ opposition to the appointment.

It read in part:

“On their resolute instruction, we write this letter concerning the purported unlawful and illegal appointment of Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo.“Your Excellency’s recent announcement of Prince Owoade’s appointment, claiming it was made after consultations and divinations, is contrary to the established legal process. The Alaafin is not chosen by consultation or divination but through strict compliance with the Registered Alaafin of Oyo Chieftaincy Declaration of 1967, which governs the selection process. The Bashorun of Oyo, as the head of the Oyomesi, must summon a meeting for the selection, but no such meeting was convened. This decision amounts to executive recklessness and cannot withstand legal scrutiny.”

Legit.ng reports that since Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, died in April 2022, the stool of the Alaafin has been vacant.

Read more about new Alaafin of Oyo here:

• Abimbola Akeem Owoade: 10 facts about Alaafin of Oyo-elect as Makinde gives approval
• New Alaafin of Oyo: What King Akeem Abimbola Owoade intends to achieve in his reign has emerged

Alaafin stool: Makinde dragged to court

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that some kingmakers dragged Governor Makinde to court over the government’s alleged refusal to approve the selection of Prince Gbadegesin as the new Alaafin of Oyo.

The aggrieved kingmakers also sued the attorney general/commissioner for justice, Biodun Aikomo, and the ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs in court.

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Source: Legit.ng